The government has today launched its Universal Credit pathfinder in four local jobcentres in selected areas of Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Warrington and Wigan.
Single jobseekers who live in Ashton-under-Lyne will claim the new benefit while in the other three areas jobcentres will first trial the new claimant commitment and will take claims for Universal Credit beginning in July, informed by the early testing in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Universal Credit will be rolled out nationally from October 2013 and the transition from the current system of benefits and tax credits to Universal Credit is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.